Overview
- Palihapitiya made the comments on The Axios Show on June 27, saying the H‑1B system has been subject to ‘‘gross abuse’’ and calling for major fixes that keep skilled immigration open.
- He noted he and Elon Musk entered the U.S. on H‑1B visas and said the program once brought in standout engineers like Google’s Urs Hölzle who helped build Silicon Valley.
- Palihapitiya said demand now far outstrips supply, citing what he described as about 800,000 applications for roughly 20,000 slots and saying that concentrated filings by a few employers have warped the lottery.
- He argued the system has damaged public trust because some Americans see H‑1B hiring as driving down wages, and he said reforms must address those perceptions and reward exceptional talent.
- The remarks add a high‑profile industry voice to ongoing policy and legal debates over caps, employer practices, and visa rules that could shape who can work in U.S. tech and how the country competes for talent.